Beyond Division: Yang Han-jong's 1 billion KRW donation for N. Korean defectors brings new hope

Up next we share with you the story of one elderly man who is seeking emotional closure via a generous donation to help defectors build a new home here in South Korea.

Our Kim Jung-sil met up with him.

89-year-old Yang Han-jong's life reflects the deep pain and division that has shaped Korea for decades.

His story, filled with personal tragedy, is one shared by many families torn apart by the invisible line that divides North and South Korea.

In 1947, when Yang was only 11, his father, a respected intellectual, made the life-changing decision to defect to North Korea.

This left Yang, his mother, and five siblings behind in the South.

The family's world was shattered, and poverty took over.

Yang's father's name became a source of shame.

"I was just a child when my father went over to the North My mother, at 33, was left alone to raise six children. We lived in a small room, so poor it's hard to describe."

Despite everything, Yang's resilience was stronger than the weight of his sorrow.

In Seoul, during the 1970s and 1980s, he built a successful life running 'Sansugapsan,' a classical music nightclub that became a haven for the city's artistic community.

But even in success, the memory of his father and the division within Korea never really faded. It wasn't until later in life that Yang found peace—by giving back.

Earlier this month, Yang's donation was recognized at Hanawon, a South Korean center helping North Korean defectors.

His contribution of one billion won, about 700,000 U.S. dollars, will be distributed as around 500 dollars per person, each month, until the fund is used up.

For Yang, this is about more than just financial help—it's about giving North Korean defectors a fresh start.

"I hope this small donation will help North Korean defectors build new lives here. The South is different from the North. Here, you can make something of yourself with your own efforts, and I want them to feel that possibility, that they can dream again."

Yang's family is equally proud of his decision.

Choi Han-chul, Yang's stepson, voiced his full support.

"I'm very proud of my father. I think that the money will be a great help to the people who evacuated from North Korea."

In his later years, Yang has found a way to bridge the gap—turning his painful past into something lasting and meaningful for others.

Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.